James 5:13-16 (NRSVUE)

¹³ Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up, and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

 

Matthew 6:9-13 (CEB)

⁹ Pray like this:
Our Father who is in heaven,
uphold the holiness of your name.
¹⁰ Bring in your kingdom
so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven.
¹¹ Give us the bread we need for today.
¹² Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you,
just as we also forgive those who have wronged us.
¹³ And don’t lead us into temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.

 

Today's Reflective Questions

• Where do you find yourself as you pay attention to this scripture?
• What is God saying to you through this/these texts?
• How will you allow this/these scriptures effect your prayer life?

This Week's Lenten Focus: Prayer

This Lenten season, Bishop David Wilson, along with some conference staff and members of the laity, are inviting the people of the Great Plains Conference and beyond to “Pay Attention to God’s Voice” during this season of Lent. This week's focus is Prayer.

Prayer is at the heart of Christianity. Prayer is connecting to God, showing our heart. Prayer is also listening, listening, listening. There is no one right way to do it. What we have found is that the more we pour out our heart to God, the more connected we are to God. The more connected we are to God, the more strength we have to pray. Sometimes our prayers are intimate. Sometimes our prayers are universal. Sometimes they are coherent and sometimes discombobulated. Sometimes we are silent. Each of these have ways that connect us to God who is both intimate and universal, who cares enough to have created each of us and also created the universe.

There have also been times when we could not pray, we did not know how to pray, we did not know what to pray, or how to even begin. It is in these times especially that we give God thanks for people who have come alongside us to be a prayer advocate.

Prayer in its many forms is vehicle for mutual communication with God. Not only talking to God but also sensing where ... when ... how God is speaking and what is God saying. As with Elijah on 1 Kings 19:11-13 ... often God is in the thin silence ... a still small voice.

 

• Watch a video featuring Rev. Dr. Shelly Petz and Rev. Dr. Charlotte Abram talking about prayer.
• Watch a video featuring Bishop David Wilson inviting you to observe a Holy Lent
• To learn more, check out this special page on our website dedicated to our Lenten topics.

Invitation to Go Deeper

Reread the scripture for today slowly three times, once silently, once out loud and again underline the word or phrase that stands out to you.  Reflect on the word or phrase that has caught your attention by journaling your thoughts … or sitting quietly and meditating on that word or phrase.

Prayer for Reflection

Matthew 18:19-20
Isaiah 58:1-2